← All roles

Operations Manufacturing Design PhD Internships

Apple· Operations / Manufacturing Design
Apply on company site
RemoteinternshipPosted 4mo ago

About the role

Internship program in Apple’s Operations team focusing on Manufacturing Design disciplines (MDE, MQE, SME, OPM) with emphasis on developing manufacturing processes, quality systems, supplier collaboration, and program management for Apple product enclosures and related components. Opportunities span design, tooling, process development, quality planning, and cross-functional collaboration to scale manufacturing for devices such as iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

Responsibilities

  • Lead selection, implementation and optimization of manufacturing processes for mechanical enclosure subassemblies
  • Evaluate product features for manufacturability and recommend capable processes and equipment
  • Innovate new manufacturing processes and conduct design of experiments to validate process capability
  • Partner with global supplier managers to qualify suppliers and assess secondary processes for capacity, quality and cost
  • Define and refine mechanical tooling, fixtures and establish capability and readiness with suppliers
  • Implement post production quality and cost improvement activity related to fixtures and processes
  • Develop and implement high efficiency inspection equipment and quality systems
  • Lead creation of inspection and measurement equipment for Apple products
  • Develop product quality plans (PQP) appropriate to program and commodity
  • Provide technical direction and mentorship to other quality engineers
  • Identify studies to improve measuring methods and lead quality engineering for multiple programs
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to define quality expectations and assurance techniques
  • Partner with supplier quality management in supplier selection, production control and quality programs
  • Monitor supplier performance through production line statistics, inspections and audits
  • Lead process development trials and tool design/build and tool qualifications at supplier sites
  • Research and implement surface finishing, coatings, surface science, automation, and related manufacturing technologies

Qualifications

  • Currently pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering, material science, industrial engineering or related field
  • Hands-on manufacturing environment experience
  • Proven capability in developing quality plans, validating test methods and gauges, and driving corrective actions
  • Deep knowledge of quality and reliability concepts, supplier management, and general manufacturing operations
  • Significant project management experience; familiarity with DOE, root cause analysis, and SPC preferred
  • Must return to school after internship or internship must be final requirement for graduation
  • Technical experience with mechanical enclosures, casings, plastic parts, injection molding, tooling, jigs, fixtures, or automotive high-volume manufacturing
  • Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and statistics
  • Experience with mechanical properties of materials as they relate to manufacturing
  • Experience with DOE principles
  • Willingness to travel domestically and overseas
  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and executive presentation skills

Skills

Required:Manufacturing process designSupplier managementQuality planning and PQPProject managementCross-functional collaborationCommunication / presentations
Nice to have:Design of experiments (DOE)GD&T / metrology

Benefits

  • Not explicitly listed in the description
Last updated Jun 26, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Apple

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

AirPods Max 2Apple ArcadeApple CardApple Fitness+Apple MusicApple TVApple TV+Apple Watch Series 11
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Apple